Have you ever set out on a short trip only to find all the kids fighting over who gets to sit where? I usually let them try and work it out on their own but if they haven't by the time I am in the car and buckled in, it becomes mom's decision and everyone has assigned seats.

Just as you are pulling out of the drive way and getting on the road, someone always has to say, "I'm hungry." So it's a stop at the local drive-through to pick up a burger and a drink for everyone.

Then you think ok they are buckled in and in their seat, everyone is fed and watered. Now we are off. Only to hear someone say can you turn the radio on mom.

Well of course I can. And I do. Then it starts. Everybody and their brother wants a different radio station. So once again you step in and decide that if they are not going to agree on one station, we might as well listen to mom's favorite. Now that can be anything from Country to Gospel. Depending on my mood.

Within a few minutes I hear humbled voices from the back saying ok mom we will except 101.5 or whatever is popular for them that day.

By the time everyone is seated, buckled, fed, watered and now enjoying music, wouldn't you know... we are almost there.

I guess you can say it is all in a day's journey of family fun. Working out the little things in life so that they are not such a big deal can mean happiness or despair to every mom or dad on earth. So a little flexibility goes along way. Especially with older children who think they are already grown at the tender age of 12.

I always travel with a special bag of goodies. A few good books, A Frisbee, a hand held game system. and some off the wall snacks. So when I hear I am bored or there is nothing to do by one of the bright ones, I reach them the bag of goodies. If they can't find something in there to occupy with then a good nature walk is called for. That walk is anywhere in a different direction than I am occupying. (hehehe)

So get ready for those little summer trips with a lot of good ideas and some awesome tips.